Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings

ABSTRACT

Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings comprising two parallel disposed guide profiles ( 1 ) for a carriage ( 2 ), wherein one of the cross edges of the awning material ( 3 ) is attached at the carriage ( 2 ), wherein the awning material ( 3 ) can be wound up on the winding shaft driven by a motor and disposed at the higher disposed region of the structure and comprising a blocking mechanism which operates between the carriage ( 2 ) and the guide profiles ( 1 ), wherein the outer edge ( 1   c ) of the lower flange ( 1   a ) projecting from the tube profile body ( 1   b ) of the guide profile ( 1 ) operates as a running profile for the carriage ( 2 ), wherein one or two flanges, which project vertically downward enable an attachment of supports and/or a side walls.

[0001] Structures have become known for large area awnings which comprise essentially two inclined guide profiles disposed parallel to each other, wherein a carriage runs along said guide profiles during the extending and during the hauling in by way of a winding shaft driven by a motor and furnished at a higher disposed end of the guide profile, wherein the front cross edge of the awning fabric is attached at the carriage, wherein the second cross edge of the awning fabric is attached at the winding shaft. This carriage runs during the unwinding of the awning fabric based on its own weight in the direction of the lower disposed structure and is blocked by an electronically controlled mechanism or by an automatically actuating blocking mechanism when the awning is in a completely extended state. In order to assure the capability of functioning of the known structures and mechanisms, it is necessary that the guide profiles exhibit a more pronounced inclination and that the carriage exhibits a substantial weight in order to assure that the carriage, in particular during the extending of the awning, reaches without interference the lower disposed end of the guide profile. Furthermore, it can happen that in particular in case of several awnings expandable in parallel to each other, in case of rain that water flows all over the side edges of the awning and flows in this region to the ground, and wherein this region in fact is covered by the awnings and by the joint guide profile, wherein the flowing of water occurs in particular at the joint guide profile, possibly also by the interaction of wind.

[0002] As far as the blocking mechanism is concerned, which blocking mechanism is furnished for the locking of the awning in its maximum extended position in order to place in the following the awning fabric under tension by partial rewinding, these blocking mechanisms are only to a limited extent functioning and they therefore require in part manual interaction, under certain operational conditions for example in case of certain angles of inclination of the guide profile.

[0003] The carriage is either hung below the parallel guide profiles or the carriage runs by way of track rollers on a flange, wherein the flange projects within the guide profile and renders the cross-section of the profile more branched and more space requiring at the conventional structures for awnings, whereby the structure appears to be more heavy and whereby the production of the structure is more expensive. Furthermore, this conventional construction does not assure in the long run a trouble free running of the carriage because of wear and deformation, wherein the carriage is not immediately blocked upon derailing of the track rollers, which generates the danger that the awning fabric be ripped or damaged, and in addition the reinstallation of the carriage because of a derailment is cumbersome and requires work.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to create a structure for awnings of the previously recited kind, which structure guarantees continuous capability of functioning even also in case of a modest angle of inclination, wherein the guide profiles exhibit a more simple and space saving cross-section, where good rolling properties are presented for the carriage and where an effective catching and diverting is rendered possible for water flowing all over the side edge of the all awning; whereas the carriage is immediately blocked upon derailment in order to prevent a ripping of the awning fabric and in order to be able to again reinstall the carriage without the interaction of a technician; furthermore it is an object of the present invention to create an automatic blocking mechanism, wherein the automatic blocking mechanism is functioning at any angle of inclination of the guide profile and furnished and expandable system of support for the tensioned awning fabric.

[0005] These objects are accomplished according to the present invention by having the rolling of the carriage occur along the outer lower flange of the guide profile, which outer lower flange forms together with a second upper, possibly identical flange the sideways opened part of the C-shaped guide profile, wherein the upper flange covers the side edge of the awning fabric, while the lower flange forms a discharge channel for water possibly flown over the side edge of the awning. The guide profile according to the present invention can be composed out of a part with a closed cross-section, wherein a guide flange and a covering flange are attached, however, advantageously the guide profile is also produceable by extrusion out of aluminum since its cross-section is of a simple structure. In this case the invention proposes that the guide flange, which guide flange is possibly covered by a profile out of another material, exhibits a rounded shape in order to favor a rolling of the carriage and in order to prevent at the same time deformations caused by wear, blows and/or by accidental loads.

[0006] Furthermore the invention does not exclude that the guide flange is provided by a profile made of another material, wherein the other material is employed with its own seat at the guide profile. According to a further development of the invention the guide profile can exhibit one or two vertically downward projecting flanges, wherein the projecting flanges serve for the attachment of supports and/or of side walls.

[0007] The invention proposes for the purpose of a more simple construction of the carriage that the carriage carries a front side attached plate at the two ends, wherein the plate serves at the same time on the outer side for the support of the ratchet of the automatic blocking mechanism, while preferably two track rollers are supported on the inner side at the plate, wherein the lower region of the two track rollers projects somewhat over the outer line of the cross-section of the carriage profile.

[0008] The limits top elements for the catches, which catches are supported at the two front sides of the carriage, are attached on the inside at the side wall of the guide profile or at the inside at the horizontally extending part of the guide flange according to the present invention. These limits top elements can be furnished only in the end region of the guide profiles or also in intermediate positions and can be adjustable concerning the inclination as well as concerning the distance to the running line of the bearing bolt for the catch. The bearing plate itself is attached on the front side at two ends of the carriage profile and the bearing plate forms according to the invention at the upper side a widened support for the awning fabric and ends in an upwardly projecting flange, wherein the projecting flange in cooperation with a flange protruding over the outer line of the cross-section of the carriage profile downwardly from the plate effects that the carriage is immediately blocked without a danger that the carriage jumps out of the guide profiles or that the awning fabric becomes damaged in case of a one-sided or two sided derailment of the carriage.

[0009] The problem free functioning of the automatic blocking mechanism further depends on a catch, wherein the carriage exhibits an essentially H-shaped or X-shaped sliding slot. This catch encounters in locking position be it the lower adjustable limit stop elements as well as the lower surface of the flange projecting horizontally from the bearing plate, wherein the flange forms at the upper side the support widening for the awning fabric. According to further development of the present invention the catch can also exhibit as simple sliding slot, wherein the sliding slot extends in longitudinal direction of the ratchet and which sliding slot is furnished at two ends with a magnet such that with one of the ends of the slot a retaining occurs at the bearing pin made out of iron in a certain phases of functioning of the ratchet, wherein the ratchet is made for example out of brass.

[0010] The invention is in the following explained in more detail by way of a preferred embodiment schematicly illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a structure according to the present invention and often automatic blocking mechanism for awnings; here the drawings perform a purely explaining and not limiting purpose.

[0011]FIG. 1 shows the front elevational view of a guide profile according to the present invention, wherein the end region of the carriage of the awning runs in the guide profile, in a position disposed about the blocking the region, with the carriage in the longitudinal section according to the section plane I-I shown in FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows the front elevational view on the one of the front sides of the carriage for awnings shown in FIG. 1 with a bearing plate according to the present invention.

[0013]FIGS. 3, 4, 5 show different forms of the guide flanges projecting from the guide profile.

[0014]FIGS. 6, 7, 13 show schematicly the different successively assumed positions of the carriage for awnings in a side elevational view and of the catch according to the present invention relative to the limit stop elements attached to the guide profile, during the blocking phase and during the thereupon following de-bolting phase.

[0015]FIGS. 6a, 8 a, 10 a, 11 a show the automatic blocking mechanism with a catch furnished with a simple sliding slot in a schematic side elevational view, wherein a magnet is furnished at the two ends of the sliding slot, wherein the magnet operates on the iron bearing pin of the ratchet.

[0016]FIG. 14 shows the side elevational view of a guide profile according to the present invention with the carriage during an extension phase and with the three extendable supports for the awning fabric according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 15 shows the here elevational view of one of the end regions of the carriage according to the present invention running in guide profiles with an extendable support for the awning fabric according to the present invention, wherein the awning fabric is resting in the rear at the carriage and follows to the carriage.

[0018] The guide profile 1 according to the present invention comprises a profile tube part 1 b, wherein one-sided or two sided flanges la with end regions 1 c, 1 h, 1 g project from the profile to part 1 b, wherein the lower ones of the end regions 1 c, 1 g, 1 h serve for the guiding of the track rollers 5 wherein the track rollers 5 are supported by pins 5 a at the two front regions of the carriage 2, while the outdoor ones of the end regions 1 c, 1 h, 1 g cover the side edge region of the awning fabric. The embodiment of the end region of the flange 1 a shown in FIG. 4 provides for two flanges 1 d, 1 e disposed parallel to each other, wherein an exchangeable guide profile 1 f possibly made of another material can be employed between the flanges 1 d, 1 e.

[0019] One or two flanges can project vertically downwardly from the guide profile 1 and/or from flange 1 a according to the present invention, which two flanges are suitable for the attachment of supports and/or side walls.

[0020] The carriage according to the present invention comprises a tubular profile 2, wherein the tubular profile 2 carries a profile 9 for the attachment of the front cross edge of the awning fabric 3 by way of insertion of a round rod 3 a according to the present invention. A bearing plate 4 is attached on the front side at the two end regions of the profile 2 of the carriage by way of locking elements and/or attachment elements 4 d engaging from the inside. The bearing plate 4 carries the track rollers 5 at bearing pins 5 a projecting into the interior of the profile, whereas the catch 6 of the automatic blocking mechanism is supported at the outside with bows 6 d and with pins 6 e. A horizontal flange 4 b flush aligned with the upper phase of the profile 2 of the carriage stands in the upper region in front of the bearing plate in order to generate in this manner of widening of the support face for the awning material 3. A flange 4 c projecting upwardly in a vertical direction from this flange 4 b forms together with one flange 4 a vertically projecting downwardly from the bearing plate 4 a safety structure in order to prevent a sideways jumping out of the carriage out of the guide profile and in order to achieve an immediate blocking of the carriage by jointing and fastening of the flanges 4 a and 4 c of the bearing plate at the inner side of the guide flanges and cover flanges 1 a in case of a derailment.

[0021] The catch 6 according to the present invention exhibits the shape of an elongated plate with a sliding slot 6 f running according to the longitudinal axis with cross branches 6 h and 6 g at two end regions, whereby an overall H-shaped slot is generated. Of course this slot can be formed also X-shaped or generally such that the longitudinal sliding 6 a is rendered possible and a cross sliding 6 b is rendered possible at the end regions, furthermore the catch can perform a pendulum motion 6 c in any position.

[0022] The detent elements 7, 8 for the catch 6 can be attached on the side at the profile wall 1 b or at the bottom at the flange 1 a sideways projecting from the closed tubular profile 1 b, wherein the detent elements can be furnished in the outer most lower lying end region of the guide profile or also in intermediate positions. These limit stop elements 7, 8 are vertical 7 a, 8 a adjustable by way of screws 7 b, 8 b also relative to their inclination to the running line of the bearing pin 6 e for the catch 6.

[0023] The catch 6 encounters the upper limit stop elements eight during the extending D of the awning 3 by the carriage 2, wherein the side 6 i of the ratchet rubs at the upper limit stop element 8 and wherein the blocking element swings upwardly A (FIG. 6) with its rear region around the bearing pin 6 e. The catch rubs all over the upper limit stop element 8 (FIG. 7) by further extending out D of the carriage. The rear regions of the catch 6 swing downwardly by further advance motion D of the carriage in order to rest (FIG. 8) on the lower limit stop element 7. The awning is again wound up after this last phase and thus the carriage is pulled in S, wherein the catch 6 with its cross side 6 k encounters the cross edge of the upper limit stop element 8, wherein the bearing pin 6 e slides from the cross slot 6 g into the longitudinal slot 6 f by a further motion S of the carriage and wherein the catch performs (FIG. 9) a swinging motion A to upwardly in the following. This swinging motion A is continued until the catch reaches the end region of the longitudinal slot 6 f and the upper edge of the ratchet cross edge 6 m rests (FIG. 10) at the lower face of the flange 4 b, wherein the flange 4 b projects sideways horizontally from the bearing plate 4; in this position the carriage is blocked and the awning fabric 3 is distended by further winding up. In order to enable the unlocking of the carriage and the following bringing in of the awning, at first an unwinding of the awning fabric has to be performed, whereby a moving out D of the carriage is performed, wherein the cross side 6 m of the ratchet 6 swivels B downwardly against the lower limit stop element 7 (FIG. 11). The carriage is brought in S by the following winding up of the awning fabric and the catch 6 with its lower longitudinal side 6 i encounters the cross edge of the upper limit stop element 8 (FIG. 12), wherein the catch 6 hangs with its outer upper region of the cross slot 6 h at the bearing bolt 6 e. The catch with its cross edge 6m swivels upwardly A based on further bringing in S of the carriage and the catch rubs in the following over the upper limit stop element 8 (FIG. 13). The ratchet with the region of the cross edge 6 m will finally swivel downwardly after the region of the upper limit stop element 8 by further bringing in S of the carriage and the carriage can be brought in further while the catch has assumed the position for the next locking.

[0024] The motions described for the catch 6 are essentially identical performable buy a catch 60, wherein the catch 60 possibly can exhibit the same shape as the ratchet 6, however exhibits a simple longitudinal slot 60 f, wherein magnets 60 p, 60 n are provided at the two and regions of the longitudinal slot 60 f, wherein these end regions are magnetically retained at the iron containing bearing pin 6 e during certain operational or functional phases. It can be recognized in particular from FIGS. 6a, 8 a, that the catch 60 is retained magnetically by the magnet 60 n at the end region of the longitudinal slot 60 f at the bearing pin 6 e, whereas FIG. 10 shows that the bearing bolt 6 e is attracted by the magnet 6 p based on the disengagement of the magnet 6 n from the bearing bolt 6 e, wherein this position is maintained also during the function phase shown in figure 11a of the further moving out D carriage 2 and during the thereupon following bringing in phase S of the carriage 2.

[0025] The extendable support tubes 10, which form a support for the awning fabric in particular during the extending of the awning, but also in case of the heavy rain or in case of a wind, according to the present invention comprise a tube 10 with a bearing part 11 attached on the front side from two sides, wherein a bearing pin 12 disposed coaxial to the tube projects from the bearing part 11, wherein in each case a track roller 13 and a support disk 14 for the outer side wall of the awning fabric are rotatably supported at the bearing pin 12, wherein the track roller 13 exhibits a slightly smaller diameter as compared with the tube 10. The support disk 14 has the same diameter as the tube 10 and is furnished with a cylindrical projection 15 at the front side, which projection 15 exhibits decreasing diameters 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, and the like for the individual supports, in the direction from the winding shaft to the carriage 2. Corresponding adjustable limit stops 16 a, 16 b project on the side from the profile wall 1 b of the guide profile 1, from the top or from the bottom, from the flanges 1 a to against the projections 15, 15 a, 15 b, 15 c in order to form in this manner progressively a support for the awning fabric at the desired locations during the moving out of the awning with the carriage 2. During the bringing in of the carriage with the awning, also the extendable supports are brought in progressively resting at the carriage 2.

[0026] A ring shape flange can project on the front side from the support face at the support disks 14, wherein the flange effects that the support tubes 10 will not jump out of the guide profiles in case of a possible derailment of the rollers 13. 

1. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings comprising two guide profiles (1) disposed parallel to each other for a carriage (2), wherein one of the cross edges of the awning fabric (3) is attached at the carriage (2), wherein the awning fabric can be wound up on a winding shaft driven by a motor at a higher disposed region of the structure and comprising a blocking mechanism, wherein the blocking mechanism operates between the carriage (2) and the guide profiles (1), characterized in that the outer edge (1 c) of the lower flange (1 a) projecting from the tubular profile body (1 b) of the guide profile (1), form simultaneously the running profile or for the track rollers (5) of the carriage (2) and a completely free channel for water flown possibly over the side edge of the awning fabric (3), wherein one or two flanges project vertically downwardly below the guide profile, wherein the one or two flanges serve for the attachment of supports and/or of side wall is, wherein the outer running edge (1 c) can exhibit a seat (1 e, 1 d) for the insertion of a running profile and wherein the automatic blocking mechanism comprises a catch (6) with a longitudinal sliding slot (6 f) and with two cross sliding slots (6 g, 6 h) communicating with the longitudinal sliding slot (6 f), wherein a bearing bolt (6 e) engages into the cross sliding slot (6 g, 6 h), wherein the bearing bolt (6 e) is attached at the carriage possibly adjustable, at least one limit stop element (8) attached at the guide profile and adjustable (8 a) relative to distance and inclination relative to the running line of the ratchet, and a limit stop element (4 d) possibly adjustable, disposed above the bearing bolt (6 e) and connected to the carriage.
 2. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic blocking mechanism employs a catch (60) with a simple longitudinal sliding slot (60 f), wherein magnets (60 p, 60 n) are furnished at the two and regions of the longitudinal sliding slot (60 f), wherein the magnets (60 p, 60 n) operate on the iron containing bearing bolt (6 e) and wherein the same magnetic retaining effect can be obtained by magnetic bearing bolt (6 e), wherein the bearing bolt operates on iron elements provided at the two end regions of the sliding slot (60 f).
 3. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings, according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile tube of the carriage (2) carries on the front side in each case the bearing plate (4), wherein the bearing bolts (5 a) for the track rollers project from the bearing plate (4) on the inside into the profile tube (2), while the bearing bolt (6 e) for the catch (6) is possibly adjustable attached at the oppositely disposed side of the bearing plate, wherein the same bearing plate (4) exhibits at the upper side a flange (4 b) for the supporting of the side edge of the awning material (3), wherein the lower face of the flange (4 b) operates simultaneously as a limit stop for the catch (6) in locking position, wherein a vertical projection (4 c) projects from the flange (4 b) and wherein the bearing plate is continued downwardly in the lower area with an edge projecting out of the outer line of the cross section of the profile tube (2) of the carriage.
 4. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a possibly adjustable limit stop element for the catch (6) is attached in locking position below the flange (4 b) or at the bearing plate (4).
 5. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings, according to claim 1 characterized in that the track rollers are supported immediately at the profile tube (2) of the carriage.
 6. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings according to claim 1 characterized in that the catch (6) is furnished with projections or notches at one or at two cross sides (6 k, 6 m), in order to favor the engagement at one of the limit stop elements (7, 8, 4 b) during the individual functional phases.
 7. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings according to claim 1 characterized in that the track rollers (5) all or in part are adjustably supported.
 8. Structure and automatic blocking mechanism for awnings according to the preceding claims characterized in that also movable supports are running along the same running flanges (1 c) for the carriage, which movable supports comprise substantially a tube (10) with bearing element (11) fixedly connected at the front side of the tube (10), wherein coaxial bearing bolts for rotatable track rollers (13) and support disks (14) project from the bearing elements (11), wherein the support disks are furnished with cylindrical coaxial projections (15) on the front face with progressively decreasing diameters (15 a, 15 b, 15 c, and the like) and wherein adjustable limit stops (16 a, 16 b, and the like) directed against the projections (15) during the moving out (2 a) of the carriage (2) operates at the coaxial projections (15). 